Chemistry teachers

For quick version, Jump to "My Theory" (last paragraph)

Caution: Rant mode ON

I hate chemistry. Or I guess I hate that I do not understand it. You see, I am taking Chemistry in school (College), for the second time. Before this, in High School, I could understand chemistry and the teachers were very well at making things easier to understand. I never had below a B in High School. I didnt let myself get below that, even though i never had to try hard to get decent grades.

Fast forward to now and next semester I will be a Junior in College. And the Chemistry dept. here is absolute E36 M3. I am absolutely scraping my way along in this class. I only need 1 chemistry course. ONE. Which is technically HALF of what any other student has to take (the other half is organic chem). My major is Mechanical Engineering Technology, I can see some link as to why I need this course as part of my curriculum. Albeit quite vaugely.

My biggest issue is faculty. These people are absolutely HORRIBLE at teaching. Or im retarded (is that politically correct?). The first go round I had a professor that was the head of the dept. at my regional campus. He had tenure, and if we werent learning it, well maybe we just werent good enough because he must be something right to have been there that long. Or at least that must be what the University says about him.

Round 2. I decided I would try a different teacher. So i go out of my way to go to another regional campus (for this one class). This professor (unknown to me at the time) is also the head of the dept. on that campus. The first few weeks were gold, I thought maybe, just maybe, i could even pull off a decent grade. Then the E36 M3 hit the fan. 2 Months in and I feel like ive missed a month and a half of notes and lectures. The textbooks are useless and now when i ask her for help she doesnt understand why i dont get it. These people cannot explain something in simple terms if it meant saving there lives. She then said one day, If your not spending AT LEAST 12 hours studying this outside of class, you will not pass. If you are not spending 12 hours OR MORE studying this outside of class, you will not do WELL.

I try and I try, and i continue to fail. Why cant i berkelying learn this? Even though it may not feel like it, I believe i do spend around at least 12 hours studying this.

My theory: These professors are smart, Incredibly smart, and I dont doubt that for a second. But I believe this may be there problem. They are so smart, and are so good at doing this one thing, they cannot teach it. I was once told that the chemistry professors are often in competition to see who can have the least amount of students that DROP THE CLASS or that dont fail... Shouldnt that be the first sign that something is wrong and they arent teaching it right? Am i wrong here?

Sorry this post is so long. Needed to vent somewhere. Thanks.

Rant mode: OFF

Sounds like my Bio class here. I'm a sophomore. I'm a math major. I don't like science. In highschool, I escaped with a 2.5 GPA, after not doing any homework and being in AP and Honor Classes. I had a 4 on my AP Stats and Gov't test, and a 5 on my Calc (keep in mind 5 is the highest you can get). I had a 32 on my ACT (36 is the highest, nat'l average is around 21). I have never had a class where I got less than a C without studying--If I do study, I expect an A (in college, this is the norm for the hard classes for me). I am averaging 2 hours a day studying for my BIO 101 class. Haven't missed a single one. And I'm getting a D-. How is this possible? Its a berkeleying Gen-Ed!!

Oh, and we don't even have a text book. we have a lab book and lecture notes that they gave us. Why couldn't they just give us a berkeleying textbook, so I don't have to scour the interwebs looking for the correct information to pass the test?

When I was taking Sciences in university I put a 302 V8 in a Pinto wagon as a stress-reducer. Driving it was a different story. Maybe you need something like that to help you through.

No space, no money. I'm autocrossing when i can.

Teaching at a university requires an advanced degree. That means you need to be highly specialized in your field. It does not require any educational training or experience. To teach high school, you are required to have a teaching credential, that requires you to demonstrate some level of competency teaching.

Teaching is a skill in in itself. Having the knowledge is one thing; being able to communicate it is another.

Best science teacher I had in college, was a Bio teacher at a JC... who used to be a Junior High teacher.

No space, no time and no money here either. I work as much as possible as i go through school. I cant not have a job. add in my 4 other classes + however much i can possibly work. I average 4 hours of sleep. I think my school needs to re-evaluate some of their faculty. If no one is learning it. That should be warning sign 1. I would almost rather have an undergrad chem major student teach me this e36 m3 than someone with a doctorate who cant teach anything.

Summer is autocross/driving/car time... any other time is just dreaming about being there.

Salanis wrote: Teaching at a university requires an advanced degree. That means you need to be highly specialized in your field. It does not require any educational training or experience. To teach high school, you are required to have a teaching credential, that requires you to demonstrate some level of competency teaching. Teaching is a skill in in itself. Having the knowledge is one thing; being able to communicate it is another. Best science teacher I had in college, was a Bio teacher at a JC... who used to be a Junior High teacher.

exactly my point.

wtf how did this happen? ^^^

cxhb wrote: wtf how did this happen? ^^^

You put the "/" after the "b", not before.

haha... syntax fail...

I had the same problem with Calculus last year. The teacher was nice, but really seemed to struggle with simplifying the content to a level below her own understanding. My solution was to see a tutor after class hours. Being a one-on-one session in a comfortable environment, I found it to be a tremendous help.

Understandably, however, it sounds like you may not have the spare time for this.

After my high school, my son stated he wants to be a chemistry professor or teacher. He got passed through his first year of Chemistry due to his AP Classes and a score of 4.

He is in his first year of college and taking organic chemistry. He is real quiet on his major right now......

The teacher makes all the differance. I had a Trig teacher once that when I aske a Q about why she did that she just looked at you and said because that is the way it is done. Bad answer. Reason - she was the head of the dept. Never take the head as your teacher. They tend to think far above where you are and don't "dumb" it down for the people just getting into it. IMHO it is part of the problem of not enough people learning higher math and sciences.

BTW - Biology major here.

pete240z wrote: After my high school, my son stated he wants to be a chemistry professor or teacher. He got passed through his first year of Chemistry due to his AP Classes and a score of 4. He is in his first year of college and taking organic chemistry. He is real quiet on his major right now......

My first two years of school i was basically a part-time student due to not knowing what to do. Which was a huge mistake... I am soooo far behind but I do have almost all of my stupid "filler courses" out of the way. But at least im still trying and now im a full-time student. I could write a book on what not to do in college...

What sold me on my major was a job shadow i did as an X-ray technician, during the first patients x-ray the machine broke, so they called the guy on staff who fixes all that stuff. I found myself wanting to stay and learn how the x-ray machine worked and how to fix it rather than get the patient to another machine. So I had an idea within the first hour that I was probably going into the engineering field. Mechanical engineering technology is based solely on the regional campuses of my school which is great for me, as I live less than five minutes from one of the regional campuses.

Another thing I enjoy is that my major is about 25% more hands on than that of your standard mechanical engineering major. Hands on stuff I can do. It helps me learn. This is how I managed a B in the Chemistry lab and now dont have to take it again, the lecture on the other hand... is what kills me.

Kia_racer wrote: The teacher makes all the differance. I had a Trig teacher once that when I aske a Q about why she did that she just looked at you and said because that is the way it is done. Bad answer. Reason - she was the head of the dept. Never take the head as your teacher. They tend to think far above where you are and don't "dumb" it down for the people just getting into it. IMHO it is part of the problem of not enough people learning higher math and sciences. BTW - Biology major here.

lol If I manage to fail this chemistry lecture again (Dear God I hope not), I will surely take this into consideration when scheduling.

I would also fing a tutor asap. It couldn't hurt.

Don't get me started. Having been a professional student for ten years or so, I know every trick there is and every trap they throw at you. These classes are not designed to teach you chemistry. They are designed to flunk you out of school.

In your case, you have two choices::

1. Take the chemistry course at the nearest junior college at night. (Smartest choice.)

2. Find out which teacher is the least shiny happy person and make sure you get that one at your current school. Drop your hour load for that semester. Look for little extra tutoring sessions where a grad student gives a little supplimental class to help work the problems. Get the old tests and learn how to work the problems. Get the best calculator they will let you use.

At TAMU, the chemistry department was so bad that there was a guy that set up shop in the evenings across the street from the school doing nothing but showing students how to work the problems and test questions two nights a week. He charged ten bucks a head per night and was rumored to have a Ferrari.

As a chemistry major, I thought the Physics professors were the worst ones....

Sounds about normal to me...

I had to take 2 chem courses and they monopolized my time. In order to pass you had to eat sleep live breathe the course.

Over last summer I took Differential Equations. it was an online course and the only one I was taking. The way it was taught was "heres your assignment, heres the due date, good luck" 3+ all nighters a week with that class and I barely squeaked through.

at my school math and chem are notorious for being horrible time sinks. I, thankfully dont have to take organic chemistry, my gf does... 15 hours a week in lab.. for one class.. add endless hours studying to that.. Didnt see much of her that semester.

welcome to college, it SUCKS, but its temporary.

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Dummies-John-T-Moore/dp/0764554301 I have actually found the for dummies books to be good secondary texts. saved my behind in math and chem.

One of my favorite physics teachers once told me something that has stuck with me as a mantra. If your teacher cant teach you and your book isnt understandable on the topic, go find another book!

After that I went digging in my basement and found my dads old textbooks and they have been another behind-saving resource. In physics 3 (diff prof then the one I quoted) we were learning optics and I wasnt the best at following his derivations and the book barely touched on them.. found my dads old optics book that did the derivations out and saved my bacon.

another lesson, frequently OLD books are better resources then NEW books. They are just less picture based and can be more formula based.

In reply to Apexcarver:

Ill take that into consideration for sure. Do libraries generally carry the "dummies" books?

One thing I will say is that I have seen this a hundred times: people who do well in high school, without trying, take a bath in college. College is an entirely new game compared to high school.

Nothing against the OP and I'm sure you're trying, but I have seen this a lot.

cxhb wrote: In reply to Apexcarver: Ill take that into consideration for sure. Do libraries generally carry the "dummies" books?

not sure, I've just bought them, they are only like $20 which is one hellof a bargain compared to textbooks.

For science/math courses and subjects I have taken to collecting textbooks into my own library. Expensive? yes, but you might need them at some point.

Look for old textbooks being given away, the professors at my university put a shelf in one of the student lounges that they put old books on free to take. From that shelf I now have several advanced mathmatics books.

Duke wrote: One thing I will say is that I have seen this a hundred times: people who do well in high school, without trying, take a bath in college. College is an entirely new game compared to high school. Nothing against the OP and I'm sure you're trying, but I have seen this a lot.

Well heres the thing, and your right, I didnt try too hard in high school. I did my homework, studied a bit but certainly not a lot, and managed A's and B's.

But I wasnt your brilliant advanced placement prodigy student that breezed through school. I wasnt a lower level student either. There were three designations in my high school, Advanced, College Prep, and whatever the lower was (I dont remember) I was right in the middle.

So yeah... I didnt give it my all. Did I at least give it effort? Yeah. I didnt want to do bad. Do I regret not trying harder? Absolutely.

And yeah college is hard, I expected it to be otherwise everyone would be running around with Phd's. But even if It's beating the e36 m3 out of me I will keep going. And im not whining that its too hard, like i said, I expect it to be. I just dont think its right that teachers that continually have students drop or fail semester after semester year after year still have jobs or get raises. If they suck at teaching, it will show.

I'm in my 3rd (and thankfully last) semester of organic chemistry, and I'm not even a chem major.

People that hold degrees in chemistry have a ton of respect from me. I can't think of a single thing that I've tried that is harder. Math for the most part makes sense, it's all logic based. Physics is math with meaning, but chemistry? holy crap.

A good professor makes all the difference in the world.